Baby showers are parties
thrown for friends that are pregnant. This practice has
significantly changed over the course of the years and has
gradually become more and more elaborate and planned.
Baby showers can make an expectant mother feel more secure in
the fact that her friends are all pulling for her and giving
moral and financial support. Usually the baby shower is
organized by non-relatives. But today, there is isn’t abnormal
to find family members, support group members, church friends
and pretty much anyone except the expecting mother.
Inviting the Guests
Who should you invite? Usually, the guest list will only include
those nearest and dearest to the expectant mother. It wouldn’t
hurt if she gets a first look at the guest list so that she can
suggest who should be invited. If you are planning a surprise
baby shower, you will have to do a little research on who should
be attending instead of running the list through the expectant
mother.
If the child is not a firstborn, you may opt to keep the number
of guests down to the closest to the mother. Firstborn baby
showers tend to have a larger guest list since it is, after all,
the mother’s first time.
The thing to remember is that the nature of baby showers is
intimacy. So, for any baby shower party, try making the
gathering one of intimate friends.
You could use informal ways to invite these guests: email, phone
and others. Invitation cards and other letters are the best way,
however, as they provide a tangible, traceable evidence of
invitation. Plus, it is the most sure and formal way to invite a
person – and in many cultures – the only way.
What About the Guys
The nature of the party is probably going to tend towards the
feminine side; if the organizers of the party have a provision
for this, then inviting men would be fine. It also depends on
the men, since the party may dwell on topics such as pregnancy,
children, and other motherly topics, they might not be that
excited to join. All in all, it depends on the preference of the
organizers.
Venue
Anywhere! As long as it can keep with the placid and fun nature
of the occasion, any place would be fine. The more usual places
on baby shower lists are backyards, formal halls, restaurants,
and basically any room that has the amenities to make a baby
shower successful. Just make sure the venue is not crowded and
stressful to the mother-to-be. It also pays to make sure the
venue is set long before the actual baby shower happens.
When to Throw a Baby Shower
Usually this is one or two months before her due. The baby
shower is the perfect time to get your friend baby needs and
stuff she may not have had time to purchase yet. It has to be
well-timed though – not too close to the due date, and not to
far as to whittle down the excitement.
Baby showers are a pleasant surprise to expecting mothers. It
takes a lot of the stress of expecting a child off of their
minds and provides a means for friends to show support and
concern (and of course, baby gifts) to expecting friends.
A properly coordinated baby shower will be greatly appreciated
and forever remembered by mothers long after they have delivered
their children.
|
